In the Genesis story of Noah’s Ark, a dove returned with a fresh olive leaf.
After the floodwaters begin to recede, Noah sends birds from the ark to learn whether the land has dried. A raven is sent first and flies back and forth. Noah then sends a dove, which initially finds nowhere to rest and returns.
After seven days, Noah sends the dove again. It comes back in the evening carrying a freshly plucked olive leaf, showing that vegetation has reappeared above the waters. A later flight in the sequence provides a further sign that the ground is becoming dry.
The olive branch later became a widely recognized symbol of peace, although the Genesis passage specifically describes an olive leaf. The raven and dove are distinct birds in the narrative and should not be swapped.